Thousands turn out to cheer on five-year-old Miles Scott, a leukaemia
sufferer, who dresses up as Batkid for the day and joins Batman to take on
super villains in San Francisco

A five-year-old who has battled leukaemia for three years was cheered on by thousands on Friday, as he dressed up as Batman and raced round San Francisco taking on super villains.

‘Batkid’ was called into service by Police Chief Greg Suhr and spent the day heading from one “crime scene” to the next. Accompanied by ‘Batman’, Batkid rescued a damsel in distress from cable car tracks, captured the Riddler as he robbed a bank, and saved the San Francisco Giants baseball team mascot – Lou Seal – from The Penguin’s clutches.

Miles Scott, who lives in Tulelake in northern California, was able to fulfil his wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the city and volunteers who stepped forward to help. He was diagnosed three years ago, underwent chemotherapy treatment and is now in remission.

Miles, who lives in Tulelake in northern California, did not know what was in store for him and thought he was in San Francisco just to get a Batman costume so he could dress like his favourite superhero.

Miles Scott, dressed as Batkid, with Batman

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Batkid had a police escort worthy of a dignitary as he sped around the city in a black Lamborghini with a Batman crest, with officers blocking traffic and riding alongside him on motorcycles. The White House sent out a tweet encouraging Batkid to "Go get 'em!" In a video recording, President Barack Obamasaid, "Way to go, Miles! Way to save Gotham!"

<noframe>Twitter: FLOTUS - Thanks for catching all those bad guys <a href="https://twitter.com/search?src=hash&q=%23SFBatKid" target="_blank">#SFBatKid</a>! You're an inspiration to us all. -mo</noframe>

The crowds grew after each stop, reaching into the thousands by the time Miles got to Union Square for lunch at the Burger Bar atop Macy's. Spectators climbed trees and clambered up lampposts, and police and organisers struggled to keep a path open for the motorcade, which drove past onlookers lining the streets six deep for several blocks.

At Batkid's stop in the city's Russian Hill neighbourhood, a woman sat on the cable car tracks in a dress and thigh-high black boots. She had a handkerchief around her mouth, and her hands were bound behind her back.

Batman and Batkid sprang into action, with the aid of a trampoline, as the crowd roared. They rescued the woman and disabled a plastic replica bomb she was tied to.

The two masked superheroes then took off to catch the Riddler as he robbed a downtown bank. They later jetted to the Penguin's kidnapping of Lou Seal.

(ZUMA/REX)

The five-year-old at first seemed overwhelmed by the outpouring, quietly working through each scenario with clenched fists and tight lips amid delirious chants of "bat kid, bat kid." But by the time he reached City Hall to receive a key to the city in front of the biggest crowd of the day, he was all bravado.

Though he did not address the crowd, he raised his fist twice and wore a grin as he was feted with chocolate, an FBI "raid jacket" and a San Francisco Police Department cap. A clothing company donated $10,000 (£6,200) to Miles' family, and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee proclaimed Nov. 15 to be "Batkid Day Forever."

(AP)

Melinda Haag, a US attorney, unveiled an "indictment" charging the Penguin and Riddler with conspiracy as the crowd that stretched for blocks roared with delight.

Miles' father, Nick Scott, was asked what the boy liked best about Batman. "The cape, I guess," he said.

The father thanked the crowd, organisers and the city for showing his son a good time.

"This is closure for us," Nick Scott said. "It has been a hard three years."

Make-A-Wish has fulfilled similar wishes across the country. In Anaheim, a child became Batman's sidekick, Robin; and in Seattle a child was a secret agent, said Jen Wilson, a spokeswoman for the local organization.

The San Francisco Chronicle, KGO-TV and thousands of volunteers participated in the event. At Union Square, the Chronicle distributed hundreds of copies of special-edition newspapers with the headline "Batkid Saves City."